Michael Lamont News

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the fourth show of their 2015-2016 season, an all-new spectacular DREAMGIRLS, book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, music by Henry Krieger, musical direction by Dennis Castellano and directed & choreographed by Robert Longbottom.  DREAMGIRLS will preview on Friday, March 25, 2016 (with a press opening on Saturday, March 26) and run through Sunday, April 17, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada. Additionally, DREAMGIRLS will perform Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 8 at Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge.

In all facets of the creative arts, it is an unfortunate reality that every artist needs to balance his/her artistic vision with the need to be commercially successful in order to survive financially, which in turn will allow you to follow your vision. But where do you draw the line? Of course everyone needs to earn a living, but must you sacrifice your true artistic vision in order to be a success? Such is the theme of SEX WITH STRANGERS written by Laura Eason and directed with an inner vision of the struggle by Kimberly Senior. The production features Stephen Louis Grush as Ethan and Rebecca Pidgeon as Olivia.

A very special production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM is on stage right now at UCLA, presented by the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. It features second- and third- year M.F.A. students from UCLA TFT's Department of Theater and is unique because it is being directed by Ellen Lauren, co-artistic director of New York's SITI Company and UCLA Visiting Associate Professor.

Ashley Kate Adams of AKA Studio Productions and Jim Kierstead present the World Premiere of a new American play, THE DODGERS, written by Diana Amsterdam and directed by Dave Solomon. THE DODGERS will feature Corbin Bleu ('High School Musical'), Eric Nelsen (2015 Emmy Winner for 'The Bay Series'; Broadway: 13), Emma Hunton (Elphaba on North American Wicked Tour), Jared Gertner (The Book Of Mormon - Olivier Nomination), Asher Grodman, and Talisa Friedman. Peruse BroadwayWorld's photos from the show below!

It's no surprise that a palpable, uproarious reception greeted the opening night performance of EMPIRE - THE MUSICAL, a brand new stage show featuring book, music, and lyrics by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull---currently having its 'out-of-town' premiere at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through February 14, 2016. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Marcia Milgrom Dodge (RAGTIME), this ambitious new original musical---advertised with declared aspirations for an eventual engagement on Broadway---fashions an early 20th Century era, multi-character narrative about the construction of one of the world's most iconic skyscrapers: the Empire State Building in New York City. The good news? It's exceedingly entertaining. The not-so-good news? It's a show with lots of potential but needs a lot more tinkering and refining.

EMPIRE THE MUSICAL has been knocking around in the wings ever since Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull began writing it in 1999. Its first fully-staged production took place at the Hudson Theatre in Hollywood in 2003 and it has had periodic readings through the years in both Los Angeles and New York. Now the story of how the Empire State Building came to be is enjoying a lavish pre-Broadway run at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, produced in partnership with McCoy Rigby Entertainment, Sue Vaccaro, Ricky Stevens and The Rivet Gang. 

John Patrick Shanley has won many accolades throughout his career as a poet and playwright. The author of more than 23 plays, including 80 productions in North America, Shanley won the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for his play “Doubt” and an Oscar for his screenplay, “Moonstruck.” But his identity as an Irish-American did not truly happen until 1993 when he traveled back to his family's farm in Ireland at the request of his ailing father who asked to be taken home. The trip back spoke to his poetic heart, and led to his romantic play OUTSIDE MULLINGAR.

The New York premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist and Emmy Award nominated writer Rolin Jones and Tony Award nominee and Grammy Award winning Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong's new play with music THESE PAPER BULLETS!, directed by Jackson Gay, begins tonight, November 20, at Atlantic Theater Company.

BroadwayWorld is excited to report complete casting for the New York premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist and Emmy Award nominated writer Rolin Jones and Tony Award nominee and Grammy Award winning Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong's new play with music THESE PAPER BULLETS!, directed by Jackson Gay at Atlantic Theater Company. Much of the company carries over from the show's Los Angeles premiere.

Geffen Playhouse presents the West Coast premiere of THESE PAPER BULLETS! A Modish Ripoff of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, opening the not-for-profit organization's 20th anniversary season in the Gil Cates Theater. Written by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Emmy Award nominated writer Rolin Jones (Friday Night Lights, Boardwalk Empire) with songs by Grammy Award winner Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and staged by Jackson Gay, THESE PAPER BULLETS! was commissioned by Yale Repertory Theatre where it premiered in 2014. Below, BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action!

Dennis Holland, Asante Gunewardena, Steve Gunderson and John Racca star in the Colony Theatre Company production of 'THE FABULOUS LIPTON'S,' written by John Markus and Mark St. Germain and directed by John Markus and now playing at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. Check out photos from the show below!

The trouble with one man shows is that it's difficult to make them engaging no matter the subject. Such is the pitfall that Jeanne Sakata's "Hold These Truths", currently playing at ACT Theatre, falls into. This may be an incredibly horrifying thing that happened to this man but unless you have an engaging way to tell it you might as well be trapped with someone at a party as they recount (in detail) their life story. And while that conversation might be ok for a little while, after 90 minutes it becomes wearing.

Geffen Playhouse has exciting news to announce. The critically acclaimed and popular production Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon and directed by Matt Shakman extends by one week through July 26.

Today, June 12, Arts in Review welcomes Black Dahlia Theatre co-founder/director Matt Shakman and actress Molly Ephraim, discussing the off-Broadway hit comedy, Bad Jews, opening June 17 at Geffen Playhouse in Westwood.

The charming new regional production of the Disney/Cameron Mackintosh musical spectacular MARY POPPINS---currently playing at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through June 21---has found a lovely, practically perfect Poppins in Hart of Dixie's Brandi Burkhardt, who confidently channels the nanny we all love with her lovely singing voice and a pitch-perfect demeanor that's at times bold, at times cheeky, and altogether beguiling. As for the show itself, it's quite a delightful crowd-pleaser, filled with colorful first-rate visuals, spectacular dancing, festive songs, and an infectiously enthusiastic cast that tries its best to win over its audience. And, boy, they definitely do!

Three lifelong friends are forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia in American Idiot, the smash Broadway hit based onGreen Day's multi-platinum, GRAMMY Award-winning album of the same name. Now director Marco Gomez, musical director Chris Raymond and choreographer Angela Todaro, the team behind recent critically acclaimed productions of Young Frankenstein and Jesus Christ Superstar, bring this explosive, iconic story to theDOMA stage beginning tonight, June 5 at the MET Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS/McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT production of MARY POPPINS, directed by Glenn Casale and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. Check out photos from the show below!

Israeli playwright Anat Gov grew up in a country surrounded by other countries that wanted to blow her homeland out of existence. Perhaps living on the edge of destruction for so long enhanced her ability to face disaster with a sense of hope and laughter. Now being presented by the West Coast Jewish Theatre, the American Premiere of her play O MY GOD deals with the power of faith, belief and how best to cope with the obstacles of everyday life with a sense that all will work out for the best. The production runs through June 7 at the Pico Playhouse in West LA.

Two famous brothers. One historic collaboration. Gershwin. Theirs was a name that would forever represent the early twentieth century music of the Jazz Age by capturing the heart and soul of the American people. Music drove George, the charismatic life-of-the-party musician who created sophisticated compositions like An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue, while Ira, the older and quieter of the two, was happier in the company of words. Together they created a prolific body of work that includes some of the most beloved standards today like 'Fascinating Rhythm,' 'Let's Call the Whole Thing Off,' and 'Love is Here to Stay.'

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS/McCOY RIGBY presents World Premiere production of 'Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE A Musical,' directed by Igor Goldin and now playing.